Education notes: Connecting science and literacy forums in Berkshires

Posted
Tuesday, July 9, 2013 4:25 am

Meet ...

Behind the scenes at Berkshire retreats: The Osher Institute of Lifelong Learning (OLLI) at Berkshire Community College will host a special panel discussion from 10:30 a.m. to noon on Saturday with Simon Dewar, maître de maison of Blantyre; Bruce Finn, general manager of Red Lion Inn and Marc Wilhelm, general manager of Wheatleigh.

Based on their work at these three historic Berkshire County inns, panelists will discuss what really happens to create the idyllic vacation -- from the fine dining and the housekeeping to the daily problem-solving.

The presentation will be made in room K-111 of the Koussevitzky Arts Center, main campus of Berkshire Community College, 1350 West St., Pittsfield. The cost is $10 for OLLI members, $15 for guests. Information: (413) 236-2190 or www.berkshireolli.org.

Think ...

Civil rights presentation: Multicultural BRIDGE will present "From Emancipation to Civil Rights: the Unfinished Work," from 5:30 to 8 p.m. Monday at the Beacon Cinema, 57 North St., Pittsfield. This event is free and open to the public. Donations are welcome.

The program explores the 150th anniversary of the Emancipation Proclamation and the 50th anniversary of the March on Washington. The feature presentation will be led by James DeWolf Perry of the Tracing Center on Histories and Legacies of Slavery.

Panelists will include: Stewart Burns of the Center for Community Engagement at Williams College; Barbara Krauthamer, professor of African American history at the University of Massachusetts; Railroad Street Youth Project Director Ananda Timpane; Don Quinn Kelley, historian, filmmaker and partner at Thinklarge.org; and BRIDGE founding director Gwendolyn Hampton VanSant.

Eagles Band at CRA: On Thursday the Eagles Band will perform a free outdoor concert on the lawn of the Dalton CRA on Main Street in Dalton. Bring a lawn chair and picnic if you wish.

The Eagles performing units include a wind symphony, brass ensemble, swing band, and marching band. Members range in age from 12 to 90 with skill levels of intermediate to expert. New members are always welcome to sit in during rehearsals on Monday nights from 7 to 9 p.m. at the First United Methodist Church on Fenn Street in Pittsfield.

Paper Plane Challenge: Berkshire Museum will host a Paper Plane Challenge at 1 p.m. Thursday, included with museum admission, as part of its current exhibition, "PaperWorks: The Art and Science of an Extraordinary Material."

Learn various ways to fold and fly your own paper airplane using different designs and challenges. Instructions will be available as well as paper to develop and experiment with your own paper plane creations.

Museum admission is $13 for adults and $6 for children under 18. Members and children 3 and under enjoy free admission. Berkshire Museum is located at 39 South St. in Pittsfield. Info: www.berkshiremuseum.org or (413) 443-7171.

Grow ...

Art talk: Michael Cassin, director of the Center for Education in the Visual Arts at the Sterling and Francine Clark Art Institute, will present a free lecture, "Winslow Homer: Making Art, Making History," at 7 p.m. Thursday at the Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center in Great Barrington.

Cassin will discuss Homer's incorporation of a wide variety of themes and techniques and his exploration of the splendor -- and power -- of the natural world. Information: www.mahaiwe.org or (413) 528-0100.

TALK TO US

If you'd like to leave a comment (or a tip or a question) about this story with the editors, please
email us. We also welcome letters to the editor for publication; you can do that by
filling out our letters form and submitting it to the newsroom.